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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
When you read one of Rachel's books, you get the sense that every sentence is as impeccably deliberate as the chess moves in The Mozart Code. Her stories are remarkably complete - character, plot, and research/world building work seamlessly together to bring the reader such an immersive experience that the pages nearly turn themselves! Her love of the subject matter shines through (music! Vienna!), and she brings a complexity to the post-war espionage plot that is unmatched. I truly did not know how this one was going to end until I got to the final pages!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
I liked The London Restoration enough that I wanted to read this book, and I ended up nothing finishing it. I DNF'ed it with about 120 pages left. It was interesting enough to get me to this point, but it fell so flat for me I had to quit.
Simon and Sophie were so frustrating. Obviously these idiots love each other, and it's like they're both socially clueless to realize the extremely obvious clues. Not to mention when they're making out and Sophie stops to unpack her suitcase. What the fuck is that? They gave into each others eyes for too long, linger touches, feel passion in their kisses, catch each other staring at the other when the person staring thinks they can't see, like what else do you need? They both actively think "We gazed so long but he doesn't love me" or "Her hand lingered and we kissed, she can't love me". I just can't... the most frustrating characters ever.
The other thing is that this book is way too descriptive. So much to the point of distracting from the book. Yes we get, Sophie loves Mozart and Diana loves churches. Do we really need a full on description and architecture lesson and music lesson? I swear at one point the church is described over 6 pages. Note: I read on Kobo so 6 pages might not be accurate in print form.
The London Restoration was also extremely descriptive, but not to this extent. This book is information overload; it felt like I was taking a class on Mozart and church architecture specifically.
Simon and Sophie were so frustrating. Obviously these idiots love each other, and it's like they're both socially clueless to realize the extremely obvious clues. Not to mention when they're making out and Sophie stops to unpack her suitcase. What the fuck is that? They gave into each others eyes for too long, linger touches, feel passion in their kisses, catch each other staring at the other when the person staring thinks they can't see, like what else do you need? They both actively think "We gazed so long but he doesn't love me" or "Her hand lingered and we kissed, she can't love me". I just can't... the most frustrating characters ever.
The other thing is that this book is way too descriptive. So much to the point of distracting from the book. Yes we get, Sophie loves Mozart and Diana loves churches. Do we really need a full on description and architecture lesson and music lesson? I swear at one point the church is described over 6 pages. Note: I read on Kobo so 6 pages might not be accurate in print form.
The London Restoration was also extremely descriptive, but not to this extent. This book is information overload; it felt like I was taking a class on Mozart and church architecture specifically.
This is a sequel, even though it’s marketed as a stand-alone, and it suffers tremendously from the false advertising. None of the characters are introduced or explained…it is so plot heavy that all character development is secondary, and yet the plot very rarely makes sense. The dialogue is completely unhelpful, perhaps because the grammar is convoluted (perhaps in an attempt to sound “upper crust”...).
A good premise, but extremely poor execution.
A good premise, but extremely poor execution.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
I really enjoyed this book, and the narration was perfect. The first chapter did slow me down, to be honest—it just has so much coming at the reader all at once, lots of information. But I kept on with Chapter 2, and quickly found the heart of the book. This is a thriller with an intricate dance revealing not just the intrigue but the romance, past to present, and I am totally down for that.
Simon and Sophie’s lives have intertwined since they were young, with their families—or lack thereof—influencing them in large and small ways. Now, after WWII, they find themselves in Vienna, while the horror called the Iron Curtain is creating a new spy fest era, the Cold War. Not to worry, for they can both stand on their own feet. And yet, have they each gotten over their own heads? And do they, in fact, care for each other? I’ll leave you to discover it all for yourself.
I really like how this is WWII adjacent (recent past, flash backs), but absolutely in the Cold War era. I know it’s still very popular, but I’m weary of WWII fiction unless it’s big idea and very new territory or only part of the whole. Also, though I think these folks appear in an earlier book, this is a stand alone for Simon and Sophie. Great brain candy for a holiday weekend.
Simon and Sophie’s lives have intertwined since they were young, with their families—or lack thereof—influencing them in large and small ways. Now, after WWII, they find themselves in Vienna, while the horror called the Iron Curtain is creating a new spy fest era, the Cold War. Not to worry, for they can both stand on their own feet. And yet, have they each gotten over their own heads? And do they, in fact, care for each other? I’ll leave you to discover it all for yourself.
I really like how this is WWII adjacent (recent past, flash backs), but absolutely in the Cold War era. I know it’s still very popular, but I’m weary of WWII fiction unless it’s big idea and very new territory or only part of the whole. Also, though I think these folks appear in an earlier book, this is a stand alone for Simon and Sophie. Great brain candy for a holiday weekend.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was so damn good.
I admit to struggling in the beginning but I think it had more to do with the foreign language used and me not being able to pronounce a bunch of words.
But once I looked at the beginning as true world building of a time I don't normally read with characters I don't normally read, it helped so much.
Once I got the chapter of Simon and Sophie in 1939 I was so hooked and ready to see where this story would lead.
I'm not going to give a full review because I don't know how to anymore. I'm just going to say this went darker than I thought it would but then again, Simon and Sophie are spies so things will happen. I just didn't expect it.
AND OMGOSH the romance is so good. There is so much angst between these two that it hurt my hopeless romantic heart. Sure, I was in this for the mystery of Mozart's Death Mask and everything else going on but I wanted these two together. They have such amazing chemistry and their history is so layered and just...ugh. Yeah. The romance is good.
I didn't realize that two characters in this have their own book so me, being who I am ordered [b:The London Restoration|48856403|The London Restoration|Rachel McMillan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574087159l/48856403._SY75_.jpg|74245552] to officially meet Brett and Diana. I LOVED Diana in this, I can't wait to get a whole book of her.
I admit to struggling in the beginning but I think it had more to do with the foreign language used and me not being able to pronounce a bunch of words.
But once I looked at the beginning as true world building of a time I don't normally read with characters I don't normally read, it helped so much.
Once I got the chapter of Simon and Sophie in 1939 I was so hooked and ready to see where this story would lead.
I'm not going to give a full review because I don't know how to anymore. I'm just going to say this went darker than I thought it would but then again, Simon and Sophie are spies so things will happen. I just didn't expect it.
AND OMGOSH the romance is so good. There is so much angst between these two that it hurt my hopeless romantic heart. Sure, I was in this for the mystery of Mozart's Death Mask and everything else going on but I wanted these two together. They have such amazing chemistry and their history is so layered and just...ugh. Yeah. The romance is good.
I didn't realize that two characters in this have their own book so me, being who I am ordered [b:The London Restoration|48856403|The London Restoration|Rachel McMillan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574087159l/48856403._SY75_.jpg|74245552] to officially meet Brett and Diana. I LOVED Diana in this, I can't wait to get a whole book of her.